"This peaceful, carmine institution was founded by devils from London and dedicated to the betterment of the soul. Botheridge's 'A Tour of Heaven' describes it as 'a cross between a spa, a sanatorium and purgatory.' She commends its bracing airs."[1]
Carillon is a soul refinery located in the Reach.
Hell's Kitchen[]
"Greetings. How may we stretch, strain, purify and strengthen you, now you've come to Carillon?"[2]
Founded and staffed by devils[3] who came to the skies from London,[4] Carillon is an institution for the purification and refinement of souls.[4] It is funded by donations, as well as the slim profits from patients who decide to give up their souls instead.[5] The sale of penances as a way out of treatment[6] provides some extra revenue,[5] and contributes towards the institution's understandably massive operating and marketing costs.[7] Most of Carillon's clients are humans; the majority arrive voluntarily, although some are committed by their families or employers.[8]
Patient intake involves an interview with the Presiding Deviless[9] in Carillon's central office.[10] She is something of a soul-psychiatrist, with a stack of color-coded patient files[11] that contain notes on every patient's aversions and vulnerabilities.[12] Her magnum opus, the Carillon Compendium, lists seven soul flaws that may be treated at Carillon.[13] For each flaw, the facility has a "garden" in which it may be cured[14] - and Carillon's cures are unconventional, to say the least.
Soul Flaws[]
The seven soul flaws, as catalogued in the Carillon Compendium, are as follows:
- Clear: "Soul is fully transparent. No swirls, no clouding, no personality."[15] Treated at the barren Sand Garden[16] through tests of endurance.[17] Patients ideally regain awareness of their own mortality.[18]
- Cold: "The soul is icy to the touch. Dispassionate, clinical, removed."[19] Treated at the Stunted Grove through grueling ordeals of pain and isolation... or, perhaps, kittens?[20][21] Patients ideally develop compassion and regain emotional expression.[22]
- Curdled: "Overly willing to please, envious, obsequious... are those chunks? ...in the soul."[23] Treated at the Chequerboard Garden through humiliating tasks and trials,[24] amidst an ongoing game of human chess.[25] Patients ideally are reminded of their proper place.[26]
- Fermented: "Soul appears faintly bubbling in its bottle. It is pungent of odour and indifferent to taboo."[27] Treated at the Bell Garden through enforced austerity, precision, and generally ascetic tasks,[28] amidst the constant ringing of bells.[29] A randomly assigned purification ritual is required before entry, and even this task may prove vexing.[30] Patients ideally develop self-restraint and cleanliness.[31]
- Flickering: "Soul-light is unpersistent, incurious, lacking."[32] Treated at the Terrace of Glass Statues by making patients confront themselves (with the help of shapeshifting statues),[33] their imperfections and lies, and inescapable truths.[34] Patients ideally regain awareness of the truth and drop the habit of compulsive lying.[35]
- Lightless: "Slothful, viceful, willful abandonment of talent and interest."[36] Treated at the Gaslight Terrace by forcing patients to "put themselves out there" and undertake reckless tasks under constant lamplight,[37] in addition to the possibility of nonconsensual anatomical modification.[38] Patients ideally become more lively, interesting, and ambitious.[39]
- Stained: "Soul appears damaged, scorched. Reckless, dangerous and fatally curious."[40] Treated at the Garden of Insatiable Roses through excesses of food, drink, secrets, and tedious tasks.[41] Patients ideally learn the meaning of "too much," and become less fatally curious.[42]
Historical and Cultural Inspirations[]
A carillon is a keyboard-controlled array of bells that is typically installed in bell towers so that music can be played inside them. The institution of Carillon was no doubt named after the bells of the Bell Garden, which can be heard all over the area.
References[]
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